Gay Marriage: Ed Miliband To Give Labour MPs Right To Vote Against Bill

Ed Miliband has decided to allow Labour MPs to vote against gay marriage if they want to it has been reported, having previously indicated he would impose the whip to make sure they voted in favour.

According to Sky News the decision to allow churches to conduct gay weddings if they so wanted influenced the Labour leader's decision to grant his MPs a free vote.

The majority of Labour MPs are believed to be in favour of allowing gay couples to get married. However some have expressed opposition and will now be free to vote against the legislation without formal repercussion.

According to the Coalition for Equal Marriage, a campaign group that has lobbied for same sex marriage, seven Labour MPs are on the record as opposing same sex-marriages.